What the Heart Wants

By Natalie Joy

What the Heart Wants is a story about family, second chances, blind love, and doing whatever it takes to get what you want. Sabrina and Maurice were college sweethearts, looking forward to spending their life together. Having to help run the family business, Maurice graduated college and never looked back. Sabrina was heartbroken but put everything behind her and continued on with her education.

Now to be working with the same company as her old flame, how did she not put two and two together and realize it was his families business? Will she be able to put her anger toward him in the past, or will something or someone bring them together? That is the least of her worries because someone from their past is about to reemerge. Did she get to comfortable thinking he had moved on and forgotten about her? She will soon find out. Brian told her he would never let her go, and he always keep his promises. There’s a storm brewing, and lives will be changed forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662458590

Book preview

Maurice Reynolds

Having just returned home from Atlanta where he was asked to speak at a conference for up-and-coming architects, Maurice had come into the office early to double-check the finished product of the most recent building. It had been a year and a half in the making, with him overseeing the entire project. He knew every small detail had been checked over and over again, which is why he hadn’t even looked at the file. Today was the unveiling of the new sports medicine facility, and he was excited.

Maurice was especially proud of this project because it was designed for his longtime friend, Damon Shepard. He and Damon met when they were in the fifth grade and have remained friends ever since. Two of a kind is what Maurice’s father called them; everything one did, the other followed. They both managed to get into a lot of trouble growing up though it was nothing serious. When their sophomore year rolled around, they knew they had to get serious if they wanted to get into a good college. Graduating with good grade point averages, they both headed off to the University of Atlanta. The sound of the phone ringing brings him out of his memories.

Hello, he said in his professional voice.

Good morning, a female voice on the other end said, sounding familiar to him. His smile now becoming a frown, this was the last person he wanted to hear from.

What can I do for you, Gwen?

Gwen Simmons was a friend of the family who has been after Maurice for years. They grew up in the same neighborhood; their parents were good friends, and people just assumed they would get married.

Gwen was in love with him, but the feelings weren’t mutual. He thought of her as a little sister and nothing more. He tried explaining to her many times that he was not interested, but she kept after him. Whenever she had to attend an event, she often called him to be her date. He never refused her; it was an opportunity for him to meet perspective clients. It was a win-win situation for them both.

Maurice, I am not calling to try and seduce you or get you into bed. I have a close friend who is looking to relocate to the area.

What does that have to do with me? he asked.

Ignoring the Why are you bothering? vibe she got from him, she explained her reason for calling. He would like to meet with you. His name is Grant Livingston, and he is looking to build a center for underprivileged children. I gave him one of your cards. This was a courtesy call to give you a heads-up. Oh, and by the way, I’ve been seeing someone for a few months, she added. You made it very clear that you and I didn’t have a future together. I have respected your decision.

Maurice couldn’t help but smile, not because she wasn’t after him anymore, but because she had found someone who could give her what he couldn’t. I am happy for you, Gwen. I hope you get everything that you deserve and more. Thank you for the referral, and I apologize for my tone.

Apology accepted, she said. Take care of yourself.

They both hung up. Gwen was a lady that he had gone on a few dates with, but they didn’t have anything in common. He wanted a woman who could hold his attention for more than a few minutes. Someone whom he had something in common with beyond the bedroom. Gwen was not the one for him, and he told her so.

She tried to change his mind and to give the relationship a chance, but he assured her his decision was final. He was single for now, and that was just fine with him, but he was still waiting for that special someone. He had her once, but that was a long time ago. Maurice often thought about the one true love he let get away. They met in college, and he knew early on she was the one he would marry. Life got in the way; he was so busy working in the family business that he put his relationship with her on the back burner and the fire just died out. His intentions were good, but his follow-through is what led him to not reach out to her.

As the years passed, he became engrossed in his work and tried to forget about her, but every now and again, he wondered if she was married or if she had a family. He wondered if she thought about him. Why would she? He broke her heart, and that he was sure of. I wouldn’t think about me, he thought to himself. You left things with her up in the air. No phone calls, no letters. You just cut off all communication.

He stood and looked out of the window and thought about the mistakes he made with her. There was no use in thinking about that now; those years were behind him, and it was time to move on. She was the reason he never got serious with anyone. No one could measure up to her. Eventually, he would find someone and settle down, but he held out hope that he would see her again.

Maurice buzzed for his assistant, Shayna. She tapped on the door and then entered.

Yes, Maurice, what can I do for you?

Good morning. What does my father’s schedule look like today? he asked.

Well, he has an eight o’clock with the Johnson brothers that he would like for you to attend if you are free. A ten o’clock board meeting, but you know about that because you will be in attendance, and nothing after that until one when he is meeting your mother for lunch.

Thank you, Shayna. I will talk to you after the eight o’clock meeting.

He rose from his desk and walked over to the window. Maurice was six feet, two inches, brown skinned with brown eyes that if the light shone on them just right, you could swear they were a deep bronze. He thought, at thirty-two years of age, he would be settled down with a family of his own by now. He dated, but there wasn’t anyone he was serious about, at least not to want to marry. That was something he envied about his best friend, Damon.

He met his wife, Shelly, five years ago and knew instantly she was the one. Every time Damon said her name, his eyes would light up. Maurice knew his friend was in love. He proposed after one year, and Maurice was his best man. Now they have twin boys and loving life to the fullest. Speaking of Damon, he should probably give him a call. Just then, his cell phone rang. He smiled as he said hello.

Hi yourself. The female voice on the other end of the phone was that of Kathy Williams. He and Kathy met a year ago at a business conference, where he was one of the speakers. She introduced herself and told him how much she admired his work. Since then, they have been seeing each other, and things were looking good for them, at least that was how she saw it.

How is your day going? she asked.

It’s full of meetings, but better now that you called.

Maurice didn’t have any deep feelings for her but enjoyed her company from time to time. In the back of his mind, he knew she wanted more, but he wasn’t able to give it to her, and at some point, he would have to make that clear.

I was wondering if you would like to meet me for dinner tonight around six if your schedule is not full.

I would love to, Maurice said.

Any particular place you have in mind?

How about that Italian restaurant Mateo’s on Windmill?

Sure, she said. I haven’t been there yet. I hear the food is delicious.

Okay, I will see you then. They hung up.

Maurice felt a little uneasy after the call. Something in her voice didn’t sound right; it seemed to him like she was up to something. He enjoyed being with Kathy, but they didn’t have that special spark. None of the women he had dated made him want to settle down. She was already trying to get him down the aisle, dropping hints here and there about settling down and having children, but he never acknowledged or spoke about any of them. Maurice was not going to settle for anything less than what he wanted when it came to the woman who would be his wife, and Kathy was definitely not the one.

Maybe he would bring that up at dinner, he thought. I will see how the night goes, but it was a discussion that needed to be had. He looked at his watch, shifted back into business mode, and headed to the conference room for his meeting. As usual, his father was his charming self. Gregory Reynolds was a tall man. He stood six foot two, with jet-black hair and hazel eyes and was a force to be reckoned with when it came to business. He played basketball in high school and freshman year in college. After a while, he became bored with the sport and began looking for something that would stimulate his mind. He was determined to figure out a career and a direction for his life. A career that would take care of a family when and if he decided to have one. He contemplated for a while and weighed his options, and after meeting with his coach, he decided that he wanted to focus on being an architect. He didn’t know how far basketball would take him in life, and he wanted to do something that would guarantee an income. After he met and fell in love with Priscilla, he knew he had made the right decision. Maurice loved seeing his father in his environment. He could talk shop with the best of them.

The passion he had for his company was evident in any job he handled. He sat back and watched his father do what he does best. The Johnson brothers were the owners of three restaurants. Barry, the one who made the suggestion, knew Dallas was an exciting city, and it was growing more and more each day, and the brothers wanted to be a part of it. With other restaurants in Atlanta, Chicago, and Detroit, they were looking to expand to another city, and Dallas was it. One day, they were talking and decided to bring all three together under the same roof. Barry, the oldest of the brothers, contacted Gregory and asked for a meeting. Now here they were, ironing out the specifics of this business endeavor. Maurice asked if they had any ideas of what they wanted as far as building style. Brice, the younger brother, opened his briefcase and showed him notes that he had written. They wanted people to have a different experience at their restaurant.

By combining all three under one roof would make for easy access instead of trying to find a location for each one. They contacted Gregory because they knew he was the man to make it happen.

Do you, gentlemen, mind if I bring in another person to this meeting?

Sure, the more input we have, the better, Brice said.

At that moment, Gregory excused himself and called Sabrina’s assistant to see if she was available to attend the meeting. She said she would pass the message along to her and get back to him. Nyasia knocked on her door and entered. Sabrina, Gregory just called and wanted you to come to the board room for a meeting he was having with the Johnson brothers, if you were available.

Sure tell him I will be there in a few minutes.

Sabrina wondered why she was being asked to attend this meeting. She was just getting her feet wet and hadn’t been given a major project as of yet. Maybe this was her chance to prove to them; she could do the job. Whatever the reason, she was on her way no time like the present. She grabbed her briefcase and hurried to the conference room. When she entered the room, she saw Gregory and three other gentlemen whose backs were to her. She put on her best smile and walked over to the table. Sabrina’s heart skipped several beats as she looked in his face, those eyes. She remembered those eyes. There he was.

What is he doing here? The man she thought she would never forget but she did, and now here they were face-to-face after all these years. Her palms began to sweat; she thought she would faint, but she held her composure and greeted everyone, including him, and sat down.

Maurice was stunned, looking at this woman who stood before him. Why is Sabrina here in this meeting, in this office, in this building, in Dallas? Had he missed something? When had she been hired at his company? Why didn’t he know about it? He was responsible for hiring all the architects. How did she get past him? I need answers from someone, and I plan on getting them. His mind quickly went back to a conversation that he had with his father a few weeks ago. They spoke about a new architect being hired, but he didn’t bother to get the specifics. He assumed his father had hired Collin Graves, so he didn’t ask any question. With more questions than answers, Maurice put his mind back on the matter at hand.

The meeting continued, and Sabrina had some great ideas for the Johnson building. They asked for two designs and would make their selection from them. Everyone stood, shook hands, thanked her for coming and her input, and Sabrina left. She got back to her office and sat at her desk, still trying to wrap her mind around what just happened. How could this be? She figured she would be more prepared when she came face-to-face with him, if she ever did. It had been over eight years since they had seen each other. Sabrina stood and looked out of her office window, thinking how she had not put two and two together.

She thought back to when they first met in college. She would see him in the student union with his friends, laughing and talking about who knows what. He was handsome, dressed real well, and seemed to be the ringleader of the rowdy bunch. This particular night, she was sitting in the student union studying when she caught his eye. Maurice made his way over to where she was. There was more to college than just books. She looked up, and her heart skipped a beat. It was Mr. Handsome. That was what she called him whenever she saw him around campus.

Hello, I’m Maurice, and you are?

Hi, I’m Sabrina.

He held out his hand for her to shake. He sat in the seat next to her so they could get acquainted. They talked for about an hour until Sabrina excused herself to go to class.

Will I see you later? he asked.

If that’s what you want.

My last class is at three. I will meet you here at four.

For the next two years, they were inseparable. Sabrina was in her first year of college and Maurice was a junior. They talked about what their plans were after he graduated and went back home. I don’t want to lose you, he told her. I will make time for us to be together, I promise. He would come up on weekends to visit. Then only once a month, the visits had gotten few and far in between. He started canceling a lot because of meetings or new clients. The weekend of her birthday, he had gotten so busy that he forgot to call. Phone calls were less and less until they stopped completely.

Sabrina accepted that they were over, but she didn’t know why. I, at least, deserved a phone call or a face-to-face explanation, she told herself, but it never came. She was just happy that she had met him and they spent what little time they had together. He was the first man she had allowed herself to love, and those memories would be hers to cherish. She focused all her time on her studies. Guys asked her out, but she always had an excuse not to go. She wasn’t ready to date. Before she knew it, it was graduation day. Her parents were there to cheer her on as she walked across the stage. She graduated at the top of her class with several offers to join a few companies. She wanted to weigh her options, so she decided to research each one and then make her decision. She was on cloud nine and proud of what she had achieved.

Holly, her best friend, made plans to go out and celebrate Sabrina’s big accomplishment. She always knew she wanted to be an architect. They met at their favorite restaurant.

How does it feel to finally be ready for the real world? Holly asked. Holly Brooks and Sabrina had been best friends since they were freshmen in high school. They met when she saw Holly sitting alone in the cafeteria. She didn’t have any friends; she had transferred from another school and hadn’t made any friends yet. Sabrina sat down and introduced herself. From that day, they have remained friends. They had sleepovers, went to the mall, and did everything together. Even when they went off to separate colleges, that never came in between their friendship. Holly was the sister she never had.

I am ready to take the corporate world by storm, Sabrina replied.

Inside, she was longing for something more. The hard part was over; she felt she had room in her life for a meaningful relationship. Just about that time she heard Holly calling her name.

Where did you go just then?

Nowhere, just thinking about something. She lied, of course, but didn’t feel like sharing her thoughts at this moment. I hope you have your party shoes on, Holly, because we are going to dance the night away. We, my friend, have a lot to celebrate.

When Sabrina finally made it home, it was three in the morning. She wasn’t quite ready for bed, so she turned on her radio, lit some candles, and took a warm bath. Afterward, looking in the mirror, she wondered how or if she was desirable after turning down every guy who ever asked her out. She was often told how beautiful she was, with her black shoulder-length hair, caramel skin, and hazel eyes. Maybe there is someone out there for me, but I won’t go looking for him, at least not today. It was nine o’clock Monday morning, and Sabrina was on her second interview at the Reynolds Corporation.

Sabrina Walker, she heard the receptionist say. Mr. Bradford will see you now.

Hello, Ms. Walker, he said while extending his hand. Please have a seat. I have been going over your résumé, and I am very impressed. It says here that you graduated with top honors, then went to work for the Grapevine Corporation.

Yes, I worked there for five years.

Well, Ms. Walker, I know you will be a great addition to this company. Welcome aboard.

She wanted to jump up and down with excitement, but she stood and extended her hand with a nice thank-you. It seemed as if everything was falling into place for her. She called Holly and gave her the good news. She would be starting her new job in two weeks. She didn’t know how she would feel being back in Dallas, having been in Atlanta the past few years. Having been employed with the Grapevine Corporation, she was ready for a change. She felt they didn’t give her a chance to show them what she could do. Giving her a job here and there was beginning to get to her. Until she could find something better, she stayed; after all, the pay was great.

She didn’t have set hours; she came and went as she pleased. Sabrina noticed that she wasn’t being invited to the meetings to discuss new clients or upcoming projects. Finally, she had enough and decided to put out fillers, hoping to find a different company and part ways with this one. Two weeks later, she received an email from a company called the Reynolds Group saying they wanted to meet with her. She was excited. Her résumé hadn’t been online that long, so she was very interested in what they had to offer. Little did she know Maurice Reynolds, the man she dated and fell in love with in college, worked for the same company. His family’s company?

Monday morning, Sabrina arrived at her job, ready to become a part of a successful company. She entered the building, and her eyes couldn’t believe what they saw. The decor was magnificent. The waiting area was designed with beautiful deep reds and beiges. The walls were lined with pictures of art. The front desk was made out of mahogany wood. She loved the all-around design. Reynolds Corporation has been in the number one spot for the past ten years.

Known for their unique buildings, style, and 100 percent on-time completion rate, they were very good at what they do. She headed for the elevator, ready to get the day started. As she exited the elevator, she heard a voice call out, Good morning. She turned to see a mocha-skin-colored young lady, whom she thought to be no more than twenty-five years of age. My name is Nyasia. I am your assistant.

Pleased to meet you. I am Sabrina Walker, she said, as they shook hands. Well, shall we get the day started?

Nyasia smiled and grabbed her note pad. Sabrina walked into her office and a smile quickly showed on her face. The decor was amazing—a mixture of browns and rust colors. Her desk was mahogany with a brown leather chair, she felt she would be spending many hours in.

Big windows overlooking the park across the street, she was pleased. An old memory flooded her mind that gave her chills, but she pushed it to the back of her mind. Okay, Nyasia, what’s on my agenda for today?

You have an eight thirty meeting with Gregory. You were encouraged to address everyone by their first name. Gregory felt like that was how a business should be run, like a family, not like an army. ‘No, sir’ and ‘no, ma’am’ were not welcome in the office. I took the liberty of putting the files that you would need on your tablet. I will do that whenever you receive files that need your attention immediately, if that is okay with you.

Thank you, Nyasia, she said. That would be fine.

Sabrina got right down to business. She viewed the files, got acquainted with the team handling the project. She stopped abruptly when she came across the name Maurice Reynolds. She put her hand over her mouth, stood up, and walked around her desk. This cannot be happening. She never even considered the Reynolds would be a part of this Reynolds. There has to be more than one Maurice Reynolds.

She sat back down at her computer and pulled up the company website, and sure enough, there he was, looking as handsome as ever. Whatever happened to doing your homework on a company before you start to work for them? she said, chastising herself. She continued to read further. He was vice president of the company with Gregory, his father, being the CEO and founder. I can do this, she thought to herself. We’ll probably never see each other anyway. As soon as she said that, she knew it was a lie. How can I work for the company and not see him on a daily basis?

The sound of Nyasia’s voice startled her. Just a reminder about your meeting with Gregory, she said.

Thank you. Sabrina smiled back at her. She grabbed her tablet and headed to her meeting.

Gregory will see you now, Brenda, his assistant, said.

Good morning, Sabrina. It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Please have a seat. Henry Bradford has been raving about you for the past two weeks.

Sabrina couldn’t help but smile. Thank you, Gregory, and it’s a pleasure to meet you as well.

Let’s get down to business he said. Did you receive and view the files that were sent to you? he asked.

Yes, I did, she replied.

We have two major projects that you will be overseeing. You will have your own design team. We have excellent designers within the company, but if you would like to hire your own team, that’s strictly up to you.

Thank you, Gregory she replied. I have a few people in mind that work for the company. I will be meeting with them separately after lunch today. I know these projects are top priority, so I want to hit the ground running.

That made him smile. He loved to see people take the initiative. He stood up, extended his hand to her, and, again, welcomed her to the company. Sabrina interviewed six possible candidates, the exact number of people she needed for her team. She had the vision for the buildings; she just needed to make them come to life. She called to her assistant, and she appeared in the doorway. How may I help you, Sabrina?

Would you please contact the design team I interviewed and let them know they have the job, and starting Tuesday we will begin work on our project?

Yes, she replied. Would there be anything else?"

Thank you, Sabrina said. That will be all.

It was almost five o’clock, so she decided to call it a day and go home. She stood and gathered her things, said goodbye to Nyasia, and headed to the elevator. The ringing of her phone brought her back to the present. She emailed her design team and told them what needed to be done. Sabrina would meet with them on Thursday and toss around more ideas. Collectively, she knew they had to come up with something by the following week.

Maurice was in a daze; he never expected to see Sabrina so soon and definitely not today. His father was speaking to him, but he hadn’t heard a word he said. Finally, he felt a hand on his shoulder and jolted back to life. His father had a puzzled look on his face. Are you okay? You seem distant.

Yes, Father, I’m fine, he replied. When did we hire Sabrina?

Do you know her? his father asked.

Yes, I do. She and I dated for two years until I graduated from college. I came back to help run the company, and we lost touch.

I hired her two weeks ago, but she just started yesterday. That is not going to be a problem, is it, Maurice?

No, Father, it is not a problem. I am confident with your choice. She will be a great asset to the company.

When Maurice became CEO of the company, his father gave him the full reins on running it. He wanted to restructure a couple of divisions within the company, so he made that his top priority. He started with the architects that he felt were not bringing much to the table, in that their designs weren’t appealing to any